Ultimate Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Make this restaurant-style creamy garlic Parmesan chicken pasta at home. This easy recipe delivers rich, comforting flavor perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound linguine or fettuccine pasta
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining. Set the drained pasta aside.
- Season the chicken pieces lightly with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the same skillet and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. Do not let the garlic burn.
- Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Let it simmer for 1 minute.
- Reduce the heat to low. Slowly whisk in the heavy cream and Italian seasoning. Let the sauce gently warm through for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Gradually stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
- Return the cooked chicken and the drained pasta to the skillet. Toss everything together until the pasta and chicken are fully coated in the creamy sauce.
- Serve immediately. Top each serving with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.
Notes
- For a quicker meal, substitute pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for the raw chicken breasts. Add the shredded chicken during Step 6.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese; pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that prevent the sauce from becoming perfectly smooth.
- If you want a little spice, add 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes when you add the garlic.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 38
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 45
- Cholesterol: 150